A pair of covered ceremonial Sake-Tsubo called Heiji decorated with the three auspicious winter plants, Sho-chiku-bai (Pine, bamboo and plum) by Ito Tozan II enclosed in the original wooden box Plum pine and bamboo rise up in a riot of color on the thinly crackled pale glaze covering the surface. Inside the box is dated Showa 11 (1936) 8th month, 9th day. Each is roughly 22 cm (9 inches) tall and in excellent condition, each uniquely stamped on the base with the artist seal.
Ito Tozan I...

Two porcelain plates, both superbly painted in the Satsuma style with brocaded borders and landscape scenes of women and children in luxurious clothing, celebrating iris and chrysanthemum respectively. Kutani, late Meiji, c 1900. Signed Kutani Eiraku (?) So. Diameter "7¼ / 18,3 cm. Condition: fine.

A charming pair of Japanese porcelain satsuma vases. The panels on each vase tell a story of ghosts and demons escaping from a woven basket. One vase shows a scene of court performers in a traditional lion dance, used to repel evil spirits. In another panel is a scene of kneeling courtesans with worrisome expression and a shrine maiden attempting to purify the area. The final panel shows a golden box, with a large clawed oni forcing the lid shut to trap the evil spirits within. Each vase is sign...

Japanese pair of 2 panel byobu screens, with hand-painted scenes of small flying birds, a pond with foliage, a blossoming plum tree branch with gold flecks.Applied gold clouds and pigment on silk. enclosed in a black lacquered frame dating circa 1930.
Yamashita Chikusai (1885-1973) was born in Kyoto and studied under the important turn of the century master Yamamoto Shunkyo (1871-1933) from the age of fifteen, becoming one of his highest ranking pupils. He regularly exhibited at the Bun...

A pair of small pottery spill vases, Japan, unmarked, probably Kyoto, 1920’s. Bottle shaped, decorated with hand painted flowers and borders in olive green and black, pink, brown and blue against a cream-coloured background. Height "5/ 12,5 cm. Condition: firing crack to the foot rimof one vase, otherwise fine (cf pictures).

Height: 23.6 cm (9.4 in)
Width: 8.5 cm (3.4 in)

Pair of Japanese Sumida Gawa vases; depicts four polychrome decorated children balancing on ledges; thick frothy glazes cascade down from the rim and down the body; one vase perfect, the other showing a repaired and stable scallop-crack to the rim (hard to see); otherwise, good condition

The subtle pair of Japanese bronze vases with the detailed work done of motifs of lotuses, herons, and carp fascinate the eyes. The gold metal are arranged to show the changes in color of the lotus leaves and to bring forth the beauty of the lotus blossoms. Work is signed by Miyabe Atsuyoshi who was active during the Meiji period and paved the way for contemporary Takaoka Bronze. Age: Meiji Period Size: Height: 5" Diameter: 2.75"

A pair of wine cups, Japanese, Edo, c 1700. Decorated in iron red, gilt and some green. Diameter "2/ 5 cm, height "1½/ 3,8 cm. Condition: one cup re-glued (cf. pics). Price: $110, including worldwide SH & I

Pair of Korean late Joseon Dynasty square form wood wedding chests on fixed stands with metal loop handles on three sides. The lids open to reveal a nice sized storage space. A white brass rectangular plate is on the front and and holds a fish lock. Brass and white brass (nickel) hardware accents decorate the edges. Late 19th century. Each measures about 17 1/4" high x 18 1/4" wide x 17 1/2" deep. Very good overall condition with typical wear from use. One of the chests has a few cracks i...

A good pair of Kenjo Imari dishes decorated with a central auspicious “botan-mon” ringed by a wave border with gobenka. The outer register decorated with an iron red and gilt ground of scrolling vine, aka-e kinrande style, with bud shaped reserves containing a seeded green ground and further stylised Peony motifs, and stylised leaf and scroll reserves in underglaze blue with auspicious precious objects, jewelled cash and rhinoceros horn (the comma like motif very similar in appearance to a ...

A pair of rice bowls with their accompanying covers cum sauce dishes dating from the late 18th century to the early 19th century decorated entirely in enamels with gilding. Their exterior is decorated with a turquoise green brocade ground intended to simulate a Chinese enamelled scrafitto pattern of the period. The design of the bowls including the marumon elements is strongly influenced by contemporary Chinese porcelain, although the iconography and style of painting is distinctly Japanese. ...

A pair of Namasu or small serving bowls in revived Kakiemon style decorated with a depiction of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove in low moulded relief; here represented by just two of them. The Sages were synominous with a hedonistic lifestyle of drinking and poetry. The foliate rims of the dishes are painted with a fuchi beni, iron brown glaze. The central roundel in the well of each bowl is decorated with a Namban or Tojin style figure of a European with a two legged long tailed dog like cr...

A pair of Arita dishes moulded in so-called suhama form; a stylised interpretation of a wave washed beach often associated with the Isles of the Immortals. Painted in underglaze blue with a group of five auspicious karako, Chinese Boys, bound together with a ribbon or rope; symbols of joy and a wish for offspring. In addition a Chinese style Fan and a Double gourd are painted in iron red and gilt to complete the design. These are symbols associated with the Taoist Immortals Zhongli Quan and Li ...

An interesting pair of Japanese Arita saucer form dishes decorated in a transitional style incorporating elements of the Kakiemon style, notably the asymmetric elements within the reserves to the outer rim of the dish, with Katamono style motifs dating to the late 17th century or early 18th century made for the domestic market. For a more sophisticated version of this type of design in Katamono style dated 1680-1700 see Shibata Volume II no 422. These dishes probably date from the period 1690-17...

A similar pair of dishes to EW 3037 but without the additional gilding and iron red decoration. Designs featuring Karako were popular both in China and Japan at this period they were both symbolic of joy and a wish for children, kodakara; the treasure that is children. The more famous Hirado patterns also date from this period. It was also a relatively common practice at this period to represent the Eight Immortals as children, so the design could also connote a wish for immortality, longevity ...

Very unusual pair of komainu or guardian dogs to a Shinto or Buddhist shrine. The lef one has its mouth open and has drooping ears, the right one keeps its mouth closed and has the ears perked up. Very fine and smooth bronze cast with rich brown patination.
Makers mark chiseled into the bottom of each lion dog. The name consists of a single character that can be read in a variety of ways: Yasushi, but also Hiroshi, Yutaka, Toru or Akira; followed by "saku" or "made by".
Japan, late 1...

Antique Korean pair of nong, bedside chests for storage. Made of zelkova elm wood panels with cypress wood frame. Hardware is made of brass and has butterfly shaped door latches and hinges. The upper portion of each chest has a row of 4 small drawers with handles featuring bat shaped back plates. There is additional decorative corner hardware on the body and doors of the chest. Hinged doors open to a large open compartment. The doors themselves are finely inlaid with contrasting hardwood. ...

Pair of Joseon dynasty or later Korean wood wedding ducks with subtly modeled feathers covered in layers of oiled stained paper, the heads separately carved and inserted by their long necks into a hole in the body. Each has a typical rectangular recess on the base. The heads have circular eyes and slits in the long beaks. These were traditionally presented by the groom to the parents of the future bride and were displayed during the wedding. The male and female ducks and geese were believed ...